Retort, tank, or like container



y 1947. -E. A. BLOUNT, SR 2,420,411

RETORT; TANK OR LIKE CONTAINER Filed April 12, 1945 atented May 13, 1947 STATES PATENT OFFICE RETOR'E, TANK, OR LEKE CONTAINER Eugene Augustus Eiount, Sr., Athens, Ga.

Application April 12, 1945, Serial No. 588,039

5 Glaims.

- 1 This invention relates to retorts, tanks, and similar vessels or containers of the type having closures that can be sealed to hold pressure or vacuum, and more particularly to an improved cover or lid and mounting therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is to insure that the cover or lid shall be in the correct position for closing and sealing after the retort, tank or the like has been charged.

Another object is to open the cover autcmatically a suificient amount to disengage the sealing means between it and the container, thereby preventing damage to gaskets, gasket seats, and like sealing means.

A further object is to reduce the manual effort required to handle the cover in an apparatus of the type characterized above.

A still further object is to provide for automatic opening of the cover in such a manner that steam or the like escaping from the container .is least likely to injure the operator.

Still another object is to replace the cover on the container in exactly the same position from which it was removed when the container was opened.

Other objects will appear hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds.

One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that these drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a plan view of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are details of means for mounting the cover, Fig. 3 being a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are details showing suitable means for securing the cover in closed position, Fig. 5 being a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the form shown, the invention is embodied in a tank or retort I having an open top adapted to be closed by a cover or lid 2 hinged at one side of the tank. Suitable means are provided for sealing the cover to the tank, said means preferably comprising a tongue and groove type of seal between-cooperatin elements on the tank and cover. As shown, a ring 3 surrounds the top of the tank and is suitably secured thereto as by welding, the ring projecting above the top of I of tongue and groove seal in which an suitable type of gasket can be used if desired.

The cover 2 is secured in closed and sealed position by suitable fastening means such as the clamps shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6. Pairs of lugs or cars 8 are carried by the ring 3 at points spaced around the circumference of the tank. Clamping members 9 are pivoted one between each pair of lugs 8 by means of pins 10, the clamps projecting radially inward over the ring 5 and being provided with screws I I the lower ends of which engage in the groove 5. It will be evident that when the screws I I are backed 01f sufficiently, the clamps 9 can be swung outwardly on their pivot pins ID so as to be out of the way when the cover is opened or closed. On the other hand, setting up the screws I I with the clamps in the position shown in Fig. 5 forces the cover 2 down on the tank and seals and locks it in place.

It will be seen that before the cover 2 can be swung on its hinge to the completely open dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, it must first be lifted vertically to an elevated position also shown in this figure in order to disengage the sealing means, and also that the cover cannot be swung on its hinge to completely closed position but only to the aforesaid elevated position from which it must descend vertically on to the tank. To these ends the cover is counterbalanced about its hinge axis so that it naturally maintains a horizontal position, and the hinge axis is arranged for vertical upward movement under the influence of resilient means so that when the clamps are released, the cover automatically assumes the horizontal elevated position shown in Fig. 2.

These ends are achieved in the form shown by the construction illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. The ring 3 carries a pair of spaced hinge brackets [2 at one side of the container. A pin I3 extends through openings in the lower ends of these brackets, and carries between the brackets a sleeve It on which a spring seat I5 and guide [6 are mounted. The upper ends of the hinge brackets are slotted at I l and a hinge pin I8 extends through the slots, being thus capable of vertical movement. Between the brackets the pin I8 carries a sleeve I9 on which are mounted a spring seat 29 and spring guide 2I. A spring 22 is interposed between the seats I 5 and 263 with the guides It and 2! projecting within its coils, so that the hinge pin I8 is resiliently mounted and normally maintained at its uppermost position limited by the upper ends of the slots ii.

The cover 2 is pivotally mounted on the hinge pin N! by means of a U-shaped hinge member 23 the legs of which have openings through which the pin extends. The hinge member is secured to the cover in any suitable way, as by an integral extension 24 welded to the cover. A counterweight 25 is carried by an arm 25 which also is suitably secured to the hinge member 23, as by means of screws 21. The counterweight is adjusted so as to counterbalance the cover '2 about the axisofthe hinge pin [8.

When the tank is being charged, the cover is maintained in the dotted line position of Fig. 2 by the counterweight 25, On closing, the cover. and conuterweight are first swung to the horizontal elevated position shown in. full lines in Fig. 2, in which they remain due to the counter:- balancing action. The clamps 9 are now swung up to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the screws H are set up to force the cover verticallydown ward and engage the sealin means 4, I. This downward movement is permitted by the slots ll, in-which the hingepin l8'moves downward compressing the spring 22- until the l cover is sealedand locked inplace- When the tank is to be opened, thescrews l'i are backed oil, and as this-takes place the spring 22 elevates the hinge pin l8 and: with it the cover and counterweight, the latter elements rtendingto maintain their horizontal:counterbalanced position. The clamps are then moved out'of the way and the cover swung about its hinge tothe full open dotted line position.

It will be observed thatthe cover is thus elevated automatically to disengage the sealin means before it is swung aboutits; hingesaxis. Moreover, the relative movement ot i the sealing means as they approachandseparate from-one another is essentially vertical, without any appreciable lateral sliding or dragging movement which wouldtend to injure-the sealing means. Also the cover always returnsto the tankin exactly the same position previously occupied. On the other hand, the operator naturally stands in front of the tank, and if he first backs-off the screws ll nearest'the hinge, the sealis'broken first near the hinge on theside away from the operators Thus the danger to the operator fromescaping steam 01' the like is minimized: On further loosening of the remaining clamps, however, the counterbalancing action comes into playand the cover assumes a horizontal po'sitionias described above.

Itwill be understood that the invention is not restricted to the embodiment particularly described above, and that various changes maybe made in the form, details of construction-and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention- Reference should therefore be, hadto the. appended claimsforaa definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the'classdescribedcomprising a container, a cover for said container,=means for holding said cover inclosedi position, meansfor hingingsaid cover at the sideof said-container including a hingemember having. ahorizontal axis and mounted on said container. for vertical movement, means for counter-balancing said cover about said hinge member, andresilientmeans engaging and lifting said hinge member. and with it said cover when the holding are released.

2. Apparatus of the class describedcomprising a container, a cover for said container, cooper-.- ating tongue and groove means on said covenand container and forming a seal therebetween'when the cover is clsed,-means for holding the-cover; in closed position, hinge means for-said coveroat the side of the container-and comprising.a.;h, nge member having. a horizontal axisand mountedv on said container for vertical, movementv relative thereto, means for counterbalancing said cover about said hinge member, and resilient means engaging and lifting said hinge member and with it said cover to disengage said tongue and groove means when saidholding means are released.

3, Apparatus of the class described comprising a container, a cover for said container, means on said.- cover. and container which cooperate to form a seal when the cover is closed, means for holding said cover in closed position, a. hinge mounted, on said container at one side and comprising a hinge member mounted for limited vertical movement, said cover being pivoted on said member about a horizontal axis, a counterweight connected to the cover on the opposite side of said axis, and resilientmeans supporting said member and yieldableto permit closing-said cover, said resilientmeans-lifting. said member and with it said cover andcounterweieht when. said holding. means arereleased to disengage the cooperating sealing means.

4. Apparatusof the class.described'comprising a container, a cover forsaid container, means on said cover and container which cooperateto-form a seal when the cover is closed; means for holdingv the, cover in closed position, a hinge. mounted 1011 said container atone side andcomprising spaced brackets, a horizontal hinge pin vertically slidable therein, and resilient: supporting means for said pin, saidcover being pivoted onsaid pin and having a counterweight on the, opposite side of the pin axis, said-supportingmeans being yieldableto close the cover but lifting; the pin, cover and counterweight-when said-holding. means are, released to disengage-said cooperating, sealing means.

5. Apparatusof the classdescribed comprising a container, a cover for.saidcontainer, cooperating tongue and groove means on said cover and container for effecting a seal when the cover-is closed, clamps spaced around the periphery.- of the container for holding thecover in closed position, a hinge. mounted on said cover=at one side and comprising spaced vertically-slotted brackets, a horizontal hinge .pin verticallymovable in the slots, resilient supporting meansior said pin, said cover floeing pivotedonsaid pin, and a counterweight attached to said cover and disposed on the opposite side of said pin, saidsupporting means yielding when the cover is clamped in closed position but lifting the pin, cover and counterweight when the, clamps are released. .to disengage said tongue and groove means.

EUGENE AUGUSTUS BLOUNT, Sn.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record ,ln .the; file-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date,

1,339,905- OConnor May'11, 1920 1,761,985- Goodnow Jun'e 3; 1330 1,854,680 Walker -Q. Apr. 19,1932

193,321 C'ofiin July 24,1377 1,628,028 Calhoun May 10; 192 7 2,014,861 Neely Sept. 1'1; 1935 REIGN; PA EN Number Country- Date 7 537,362 France Mar. 2,- 1922 749,654.. France May.8,' 1933 

